The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Arkansas

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Arkansas For 2026

Located across the Arkansas River from Memphis, Tennessee, West Memphis is not only known as one of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas but also one of the worst places to live in Arkansas as well.

West Memphis ranks highest in violent crime and second highest in property crime. Residents have a 1 in 52 chance of being a victim of murder, rape, or aggravated assault. Maybe “The Grind City” across the river is rubbing off on West Memphis.

Unfortunately, Little Rock is again stuck at the top of the most dangerous places in Arkansas list. Little Rock residents have a 1 in 19 chance of being a victim of property crime, and they are particularly likely to be a victim of larceny, burglary, or car theft. Little Rock is not only the biggest city in Arkansas, but it is also one of the snobbiest places and one of the most expensive places to live in Arkansas.

Although the name may not be very exciting, Little Rock residents still think they have a lot to be snobby about.

Located smack-dab in the middle of Arkansas, Little Rock was named after a small rock formation on the Arkansas River’s south bank. Well, it probably sounded better when Jean-Baptiste Bernard de la Harpe said, “La Petite Roche”, but the name stuck.

Pine Bluff has a history stretching back to at least 1839, when the community was first incorporated. Built along the Arkansas River, about 45 minutes southeast of Little Rock, the city keeps a sense of its history, providing a home to the Arkansas Railroad Museum.

So Pine Bluff has the history stuff covered. What about the present? Well, that’s when the trouble comes in. The town exists as the number 3 most dangerous spot in Arkansas.

Violence represents a major problem. In a community with a total population of 38,524, Pine Bluff suffered 14 murders. That gives it the number 5 highest rate in the state.

Blytheville, the fourth most dangerous place to live in Arkansas, has earned this reputation due to its concerning crime statistics. With a population of 12,354, Blytheville has experienced 168 violent crimes, including 5 murder cases, 5 rapes, 23 robberies, and 135 aggravated assaults. These crime rates contribute to a general sense of insecurity and danger within the city.

Located in Mississippi County, Blytheville is the county seat and the largest city in the area. It is situated north of West Memphis and has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1879.

Located in Pulaski County, North Little Rock is the fifth most dangerous city in Arkansas for 2026. Known as the twin city of Little Rock, this place has a population of 64,487. However, it grapples with significant crime rates. The city reported 761 violent crimes, including 19 murders, making it the 6th deadliest city in the state.

North Little Rock also contends with high levels of property crime. There were 2,781 reported incidents of property crime. This results in a property crime rate of 4,312/100k, making it the city with the 5 highest rate in the state.

Helena-West Helena is the county seat and the largest city within Phillips County, but that’s not saying much. Ranked number 48.0 in population, Helena-West Helena’s residents experienced 8 murders and 137 violent crimes in the 2024 reporting year.

Helena-West Helena also ranks as one of the <a href="https://www.homesnacks.com/most-dangerous-places-in-arkansas/

“>worst places to live and one of the poorest places to live in Arkansas. But, if you like living in a small town, Helena-West Helena is a great place to retire.

Ranked as one of the worst places to live in Arkansas, El Dorado ranks 11th highest for property crime and sixth highest for violent crime. That means residents have a 1 in 75 chance of being a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 28 chance in being a victim of a property crime.

El Dorado was the heart of the 1920s oil boom in South Arkansas and is still to this day a center for oil production and refining. But all that glitters is not gold in the city of El Dorado. Better keep your gold in your pockets and your doors locked in this town.

Jacksonville, a suburb of Little Rock, is part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock Conway Metropolitan area. With Little Rock ranked at top of this list, it’s easy to see why some of that crime would spill over to this smaller community.

Jacksonville ranks 13th highest in violent crime and eighth highest in property crime. So residents are more likely to be a victim of burglary, larceny, and car theft in this town. You’ll want to make sure you keep a close eye on your valuables in Jacksonville.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Arkansas FAQs

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Yes, Arkansas is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #3 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Arkansas ranks fourth most dangerous in the United States — 81.7% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Natural State ranks eighth most dangerous in the United States — 33.72% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

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Yes, Little Rock is a dangerous city. Little Rock ranks as the #8 most dangerous out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Little Rock might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Heights is the safest in Little Rock, while Stephens is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Little Rock ranks third highest in America — 231.18% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 16th highest in the United States — 96.01% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

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